Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 February (HL14539), whether water companies are required to make an active contribution to the protection and improvement of public health.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Water companies have statutory and regulatory duties to protect and improve public health and actively take steps to meet them. These include completion of risk assessments and the sampling of drinking water supplies that may cause the supply not to be wholesome. “Wholesomeness” is defined in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 as water which does not contain any microorganism, parasite, or substance at a concentration or value which would constitute a potential danger to public health.

Where a water company is also legally required to add fluoride to water supplies to improve public health, it must do so in a way that complies with the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s Code of Practice on Technical Aspects of Fluoridation of Water Supplies 2021.

Protecting and improving public health is also a priority in the Government’s planned reforms for the water sector. A new taskforce, led by the Chief Medical Officer for England, will support the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, providing independent and technical advice on public health risks from water and opportunities to improve water treatment and protection.